Meniscal and Chondral Pathology Associated With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures are commonly associated with meniscal and articular cartilage injuries, and the presence of these defects influences both short- and long-term outcomes. Multiple variables are predictive of this pathology including time from injury, age, and sex. Revision ACL reconstructions demonstrate higher rates of chondral injury than primary reconstructions. Menisci are important secondary stabilizers of the knee in the setting of ACL deficiency, and specific tear types are more consistently associated with ACL injury. Successful outcomes with multiple treatment options for meniscal tears in conjunction with ACL reconstruction have been reported. Maintaining meniscal integrity may be protective of both joint surfaces and graft stability in the long term; however, clear treatment recommendations for tear subtypes remain ill defined. High-grade chondral defects have the most consistent and potentially largest negative effect on long-term patient-reported outcomes; however, optimal treatment is also controversial with successful results demonstrated with several modalities including benign neglect.